News round up - Numerous shows announced for Osaka!
So, as previously reported, we’re back! And with that in mind it’s now time to look at the latest news from the Asian boxing world.
Today Taisei Gym announced their next card, set for April 14th at the EDION Arena Osaka. The card isn’t a hugely stacked one, but does feature a few bouts of note, and will be aired, world wide, on the TV Osaka News official YouTube channel.
The main event of that card will see WBO #1 ranked Flyweight Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11) take in Thai puncher Jakpan Sangtong (15-9, 13), in what is being marketed as a world title prelude for the 26 year old Kano, who will be looking for his second world title fight in the near future. At the moment it’s unclear who Kano would face for the title, which is currently held by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez who is moving back up in weight, however, the #2 ranked contender is the unbeaten Angelino Cordova (18-0-1, 12), from Venezuela, who would make for an excellent match up with the Osakan.
Yuga Ozaki (5-0-1, 4) defending the WBC Youth Light Flyweight title against Thai challenger Kitidech Hirunsuk (12-6, 7), in what will be Ozaki's first defense of the title he won last April.
On the same show will be exciting teenager hopeful Ryusho Matsue (6-0, 1), who will compete in his first 8 rounder, as he takes on Natsu Ohashi (7-3-1, 5), in a really well matched bout.
Staying with news from Osaka, it was announced earlier this week that unbeaten Japanese hopeful Takeru Inoue (4-0, 2) will be taking a massive step up on April 21st, as he takes on WBO Asia Pacific Light Flyweight champion Jayson Vayson (11-1-1-1, 6), in what will be Vayson's first defense of the title. The Filipino champion will be making his third successive appearance in Japan, following a loss in February 2023 to current WBA Flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui and a December win over former WBO Minimumweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka, a win that saw him dethroning Yamanaka for the title. As for Inoue this will be his second bout against a Filipino, having previously beaten Orlie Silvestre, but is a huge step up in class, and a real gut check for the professional novice, who debuted in October 2022.
On the same show former amateur stand out Ryang Ho Han (0-0) will make his debut, against dangerous Thai Suray Eaim Ong (18-4-1, 13), in what appears to be a baptism of fire, on paper. The Thai looks a dangerous opponent, but the 17 year old has been stopped in 2 of his last 4, is 0-2 against Japanese fighters and has never scored a win outside of Thailand. Notable Ong, who again is just 17, debuted in 2021, as a 15 year old, and although his record looks good on paper, it is very much a padded record.
Amazingly it really does seem like all the news in Japan recently is in Osaka, as Green Tsuda also announced a show, with their set for April 13th at the EDION Arena, Osaka, and it’s their show which may be the best of the recently announced Japanese cards for April. Their show will see Japanese Super Bantamweight champion Toshiki Shimomachi (17-1-3, 11) defending his title against Tulio Dekanarudo (7-1-2, 4). This will be Shimomachi's second defense of the title, which he won last June, beating Ryuto Owan, and successfully retained in a 10 round barn burner against Toshiya Ishii last October. As for the challenger, this will be his first title fight, and comes on the back of a TKO win over former world title contender Phissanu Chimsunthom, who despite once fighting for a world title is well past his best years.
A second title bout on that April 13th card will see Filipino slugger Miel Fajardo (11-1-2, 10) defending his OPBF Light Flyweight title against once beaten Thai challenger Thanongsak Simsri (32-1, 30), who's only loss came to former world champion Masamichi Yabuki. With 40KOs between them, and a combined 43-2-2 record, we’re expecting this one to be an explosive, short lived firefight with a lot of fireworks, and it’s hard to imagine this one going the distance.
One other notable fighter set for this card is 22 year old Yusei Yamazaki (3-0, 3). His opponent for the show hasn’t yet been announced, but the touted youngster will be fighting in Osaka for the first time, and will likely be looking to impress before a potential title fight later in the year.
One other bit of news, and yes it's again in Osaka, was the official confirmation of a story that had been doing the rounds for a few weeks, and that was that IBF Bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-2, 13) would be defending his title in a mandatory title defense against unbeaten Japanese fighter Ryosuke Nishida (8-0, 1), who earned his shot in August with a win over Christian Medina Jimenez. The bout, being promoted by Koki Kameda, will take place at the EDION Arena Osaka on May 4th. No other bouts for this show have yet been announced.
Notably if Nishida wins here, it would mean 3 of the 4 world titles would be in Japan, with Takuam Inoue holding the WBA and Junto Nakatani holding the WBC titles, leading to some potential All-Japanese world title unification bouts down the line. It’s also worth noting that Nicaraguan legend Roman Gonzalez has stated he’s interested in fighting for a Bantamweight title, and has been linked to a fight with WBA champion Takuma Inoue.
Today Taisei Gym announced their next card, set for April 14th at the EDION Arena Osaka. The card isn’t a hugely stacked one, but does feature a few bouts of note, and will be aired, world wide, on the TV Osaka News official YouTube channel.
The main event of that card will see WBO #1 ranked Flyweight Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11) take in Thai puncher Jakpan Sangtong (15-9, 13), in what is being marketed as a world title prelude for the 26 year old Kano, who will be looking for his second world title fight in the near future. At the moment it’s unclear who Kano would face for the title, which is currently held by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez who is moving back up in weight, however, the #2 ranked contender is the unbeaten Angelino Cordova (18-0-1, 12), from Venezuela, who would make for an excellent match up with the Osakan.
Yuga Ozaki (5-0-1, 4) defending the WBC Youth Light Flyweight title against Thai challenger Kitidech Hirunsuk (12-6, 7), in what will be Ozaki's first defense of the title he won last April.
On the same show will be exciting teenager hopeful Ryusho Matsue (6-0, 1), who will compete in his first 8 rounder, as he takes on Natsu Ohashi (7-3-1, 5), in a really well matched bout.
Staying with news from Osaka, it was announced earlier this week that unbeaten Japanese hopeful Takeru Inoue (4-0, 2) will be taking a massive step up on April 21st, as he takes on WBO Asia Pacific Light Flyweight champion Jayson Vayson (11-1-1-1, 6), in what will be Vayson's first defense of the title. The Filipino champion will be making his third successive appearance in Japan, following a loss in February 2023 to current WBA Flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui and a December win over former WBO Minimumweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka, a win that saw him dethroning Yamanaka for the title. As for Inoue this will be his second bout against a Filipino, having previously beaten Orlie Silvestre, but is a huge step up in class, and a real gut check for the professional novice, who debuted in October 2022.
On the same show former amateur stand out Ryang Ho Han (0-0) will make his debut, against dangerous Thai Suray Eaim Ong (18-4-1, 13), in what appears to be a baptism of fire, on paper. The Thai looks a dangerous opponent, but the 17 year old has been stopped in 2 of his last 4, is 0-2 against Japanese fighters and has never scored a win outside of Thailand. Notable Ong, who again is just 17, debuted in 2021, as a 15 year old, and although his record looks good on paper, it is very much a padded record.
Amazingly it really does seem like all the news in Japan recently is in Osaka, as Green Tsuda also announced a show, with their set for April 13th at the EDION Arena, Osaka, and it’s their show which may be the best of the recently announced Japanese cards for April. Their show will see Japanese Super Bantamweight champion Toshiki Shimomachi (17-1-3, 11) defending his title against Tulio Dekanarudo (7-1-2, 4). This will be Shimomachi's second defense of the title, which he won last June, beating Ryuto Owan, and successfully retained in a 10 round barn burner against Toshiya Ishii last October. As for the challenger, this will be his first title fight, and comes on the back of a TKO win over former world title contender Phissanu Chimsunthom, who despite once fighting for a world title is well past his best years.
A second title bout on that April 13th card will see Filipino slugger Miel Fajardo (11-1-2, 10) defending his OPBF Light Flyweight title against once beaten Thai challenger Thanongsak Simsri (32-1, 30), who's only loss came to former world champion Masamichi Yabuki. With 40KOs between them, and a combined 43-2-2 record, we’re expecting this one to be an explosive, short lived firefight with a lot of fireworks, and it’s hard to imagine this one going the distance.
One other notable fighter set for this card is 22 year old Yusei Yamazaki (3-0, 3). His opponent for the show hasn’t yet been announced, but the touted youngster will be fighting in Osaka for the first time, and will likely be looking to impress before a potential title fight later in the year.
One other bit of news, and yes it's again in Osaka, was the official confirmation of a story that had been doing the rounds for a few weeks, and that was that IBF Bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-2, 13) would be defending his title in a mandatory title defense against unbeaten Japanese fighter Ryosuke Nishida (8-0, 1), who earned his shot in August with a win over Christian Medina Jimenez. The bout, being promoted by Koki Kameda, will take place at the EDION Arena Osaka on May 4th. No other bouts for this show have yet been announced.
Notably if Nishida wins here, it would mean 3 of the 4 world titles would be in Japan, with Takuam Inoue holding the WBA and Junto Nakatani holding the WBC titles, leading to some potential All-Japanese world title unification bouts down the line. It’s also worth noting that Nicaraguan legend Roman Gonzalez has stated he’s interested in fighting for a Bantamweight title, and has been linked to a fight with WBA champion Takuma Inoue.